Sidebar — Tips for “Olive Garden™” Relationships

Invite your friends to camps and conferences with your fellowship.

Think of one person on the edge of your fellowship whom you could love.

Adopt one freshman for a year. Imagine what could happen if each person in your fellowship “adopted” a freshman this next year. Your goal is not necessarily to recruit them for your fellowship, but rather just to love them and help them through their freshman year. If they join your group, great; if they don’t, that’s okay too. Try to pray for them, stop by their room to visit, invite them to come over to your place to watch movies, show them the best places to eat, go to the movies, help them get their car fixed or whatever else comes to mind that would be fun and helpful to do with them and for them.

Invest in the fringe. Similar to adopting a freshman, the University at Buffalo chapter president is meeting with many of the upperclassmen of the fellowship to challenge them to love two other people who are on the outer edge of the group (not necessarily freshmen). She is developing a follow-up plan to check in with older students regularly, in order to make sure this idea becomes more than just a vision.

Make sure all chapter social events (such as Super Bowl parties, Christmas parties, bowling nights and other events) are open to friends outside of your group. Remind the fellowship that this is the case and encourage them to invite friends.

Team up with your area’s InterVarsity International Student Ministry staff worker or International Students, Inc., and participate in a friendship partner program. Americans are paired with an international student in order to befriend them, to help them practice English and to share God’s love.

Plan a spring break trip (perhaps in partnership with an organization such as Habitat for Humanity) and invite your non-Christian friends to go with you. This way you can expose them to a week of Christian community.